Method for manufacturing a hinge, hinge and hinge pin

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hinge between two workpieces or components; first a hinge socket is inserted in an opening of the first component and then a hinge pin is inserted in the hinge socket; the second component can be fastened to the hinge pin end protruding from the hinge socket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hinge to a hingeconnection or to a hinge pin.

Hinges between two components or workpieces are needed in a wide rangeof technical areas, for example in automobile construction in so-calledlinkages, e.g. between the vehicle body and a moveable body element,e.g. between the vehicle body and an engine hood or a trunk lid. Suchhinges are also needed in other technical areas and generally consist ofa hinge socket held torsionally stable in a component and of a hingepin, which can rotate or pivot with a socket section in the hingesocket, is secured against axial displacement so that it bears with apin head on the first component or on a flange-like section of thebearing or hinge socket and is fastened in the second component in asuitable manner, for example by riveting.

It is an object of the invention is to present a method for thesimplified and especially effective manufacture of such hinges or hingeconnections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, at least the respective socketis inserted in the one component of the hinge or of the hinge connectionin or under a press or in a tool provided there, for example a follow-ontool, which then is also used for example for the manufacture of thecomponent. The press or the tool there is also used to insert therespective hinge pin and, if applicable, to connect the hinge pin withthe further component forming the hinge connection.

According to another aspect of the invention the respective hinge pin,after being inserted into the hinge socket, is secured on the latter oron the one component against falling out or getting lost, in a mannerthat the rotary movement of the hinge pin in the hinge socket is nothindered thereby. Securing of the hinge pin is achieved by plasticdeformation or clinching of at least one area of the respective hingepin, for example so as to form a section that protrudes radially overthe circumference of the hinge pin and thus securing the latter againstfalling out of the hinge socket. Securing of the respective hinge pin ispossible both in a method in which the insertion of the hinge socket iscarried out in or under the press and also at processing stationsoutside of the press.

According to a further aspect of the invention the insertion and/orcalibration and/or at least partial fastening of the respective hingesocket takes place by bending a socket edge, not by a path-controlledmovement of the tools used for this process, but rather in apower-controlled manner or using at least one floating and/orspring-mounted tool, i.e. by no means path-controlled, in order toprevent damage and/or deformation of the hinge sockets. This methodtakes into account that hinge sockets are components that are relativelyeasily deformable and accordingly prevents inadvertent deformationand/or damage to said hinge sockets. The use of at least one floatingand/or spring mounted tool for the calibration and/or at least temporaryfastening of the hinge sockets has advantages especially when the methodis executed under or in a press, but is also suitable for methodsexecuted outside of a press.

“Press” according to the invention generally refers to a mechanism, withwhich components or workpieces are normally manufactured from a flat orsheet material, generally metal, e.g. sheet steel, by means of punchingand/or forming and which comprises two tool heads for this purpose, atleast one of which is moved by the press drive relative to the othertool head in a path-controlled manner for closing and opening the pressor the production tool used in the press, for example a follow-on toolor stage tool.

“Follow-on tool” according to the invention refers to the tool used in apress for manufacturing the respective component or workpiece and/or forinserting components in the component or workpiece in several processingsteps and at several processing positions, and the components areconnected with each other via material sections and moved through thetool or the processing stations step by step.

“Stage tool” oder “Step tool” according to the invention refers to atool used in a press in which the manufacture of the respectivecomponent or workpiece and/or the insertion of components in thecomponent or workpiece likewise takes place in several processing stepsor stages, however the individual components or workpieces are notconnected with each other via material sections but are moved by aconveyor system, formed for example by transfer beams, through the toolor the individual processing positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail below based on exemplaryembodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of a hinge formed between twocomponents, consisting essentially of a hinge socket and a hinge pin;

FIG. 2 shows a simplified representation of the intermediate productobtained after joining of the hinge socket and the bearing pin;

FIG. 3 shows a component drawing of the hinge pin;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the processing steps in themanufacture of the hinge in FIG. 1 in a joining tool;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show various representations of a setting head forinserting or joining the hinge sockets;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a calibration and bendingtool;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of the sequence of functions fora further possible embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation in cross section of a componentin the area of the bearing or hinge socket before calibration of thesheet or component thickness and after calibration of the component orsheet thickness;

FIG. 10 shows in positions a)-d) again in detail the various processingsteps for calibrating and fastening the bearing or hinge socket and forinserting and securing the hinge pin;

FIG. 11 shows a simplified representation in positions a)-c) of variousprofiles for an opposing tool; and

FIG. 12 shows a representation similar to FIG. 10, however for a furtherembodiment of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 are two workpieces or components made of metal, forexample made of sheet steel by punching and bending, which are connectedwith each other by means of a hinge 3 and of which the component 1 ismanufactured for example by being stamped from a metal flat material,for example sheet steel, in a follow-on or stage tool located in apress. The component 2 is for example an element of a rod, which ishinged to the component 1 by means of the hinge.

The hinge 3 consists of a bearing or hinge socket 5 inserted into anopening 4 of the component 1 and is manufactured from a thin metalsuitable for hinge sockets, for example steel, with a sleeve-shapedsocket element 5.1 and a protruding flange 5.2. The socket 5 is insertedinto the opening 4 so that it bears with the flange 5.2 on the edge ofthe opening 4 of a surface of the component 1 facing away from thecomponent 2 and is held with the socket-shaped section 5 in the opening4. To secure the socket 5, the sleeve-shaped section 5.1 is bent on theend facing away from the flange-shaped section 5.2 on the edge of theopening 4 there provided with a bevel 4.1, so that the socket 5 forms anedge 5.3, which forms the lateral bearing and sliding surface for thecomponent 2.

The hinge 3 consists furthermore of the hinge pin 6, which comprises apin head 6.1 and an adjoining pin section 6.2 with a larger diameter andadjoining the latter a pin section 6.3 with a reduced diameter. Thehinge pin 6 is held in the socket 5 with the pin section 6.2, so thatthe pin head 6.1 bears against the flange-shaped section 5.2. The hingepin 6 engages with the section 6.3 in an opening 7 of the component 2and is anchored there by riveting, for example using a wobble rivetprocess.

The components 1 are manufactured according to this embodiment in afollow-on or stage tool provided in a work apparatus, for example apress, in which the components 1 are produced in several processingsteps, for example by punching and bending, during which also theopening 6 is made in the respective component 1. This follow-on or stagetool is also used for insertion of the sockets 5, bending of therespective socket 5.3, calibration of the sockets 5 using a suitablecalibration tool or mandrel for ensuring an exact inner diameter of thesockets 5, insertion of the respective hinge pin 6 into a socket 5inserted in a component 1 and securing of the hinge pin 6 in therespective socket 5, so that although hinge pin 6 is rotatably held inthe respective socket 5, it is also secured against falling out of thesocket 5.

FIG. 2 shows the state achieved following these process steps; thesecuring of the respective hinge pin 6 in this embodiment is achieved bya slight plastic deformation (clinching) of the material of the hingepin in the area of the stage between the pin sections 6.2 and 6.3, sothat the pin at this stage forms a ring-shaped section 8 protrudingslightly over the circumference of the pin section 6.2, which (section8) however is held in the expansion of the socket 5 formed by the bevel4.1. In this embodiment the face or ring surface of the section 8 facingthe pin section 6.3 lies in a plane with the surface of the socket edge5.3 facing away from the component 1. To form the section 8 the hingepin 6 is provided corresponding to FIG. 3, for example on the outer edgeof the stage formed between the pin sections 6.2 and 6.3 with aring-shaped protrusion 8.1. The ring-shaped protrusion 8.1 in thisembodiment is formed by forming a ring-shaped groove 8.2, directlyenclosing the pin section 6.3, into the ring surface forming thetransition between the pin sections 6.2 and 6.3 and located in the planeperpendicular to the longitudinal pin axis.

FIG. 4 again shows a schematic representation of the process describedabove, in which the individual components 1, which are manufactured forexample from sheet steel by punching and bending, are moved in thedirection of the arrow A in the cycle of the machine or press throughthe individual sections of the follow-on or stage tool. The manufactureof the components 1 and the pre-punching of said components with theholes 4 take place in the tool section I or in several tool sections.Insertion of the sockets into the respective opening 4 of a component 1takes place in the tool section II. The bending of the edge 5.3 and thecalibration of the respective socket 5 then take place in the toolsection III. Finally, the joining and securing of the respective hingepin 6 takes place in the tool section IV. During their movement throughthe follow-on or stage tool or through the individual tool sections, thecomponents 1 are connected with each other by means of material links ormaterial sections, as indicated schematically in FIG. 4 by 9. Thecomponents 1 are separated, for example by punching, only aftercompletion of processing in the follow-on or stage tool, for exampleafter joining and securing of the hinge pins 6, so that they can then besupplied for further utilization, namely for mounting of the components2 to the pin sections 6.3. The latter takes place for example at aprocessing station outside of the press or at a production machineadjoining the press or the follow-on or stage tool outside of the press.

A socket setting head schematically indicated by 10 in FIGS. 5 and 6 isused to join the sockets 5. The sockets 5 are supplied from a supplyunit located outside of the follow-on or stage tool or the press via ahose 12 with carrier air to the socket setting head 10, which isessentially known to persons skilled in the art as a “punching head”, orto a rigid guide 11 of the socket setting head 10, corresponding toarrow B in the manner that the sockets 5 are arranged so that they areadjoining in the rigid guide 1 and oriented with their socket axesperpendicular to the direction of transport B. In each operating strokeof the tool, the socket 5 waiting at the front end in direction oftransport B is moved out of the guide 11 into a ready position 13, asindicated by arrow C. The socket is then pushed axially from the readyposition 13 with a die or plunger 14 controlled by the movement of thefollow-on or stage tool or of the press into the opening 4 of therespective component 1.

FIG. 6 also depicts schematically the opposing tool parts W1, W2 and W3of the follow-on tool FW and the socket setting head 10 provided at thetool part W2 with the plunger 14 that engages with the tool part W1 andthe socket 5 inserted into the component

As shown in FIG. 5, the rigid guide 11 has a bend of approximately 90°,namely in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis directions of theindividual sockets and therefore also perpendicular to the joiningdirection. This design enables the optimum supply of the sockets 5 tothe follow-on or stage tool in an axis direction crosswise orperpendicular to the direction of transport A.

The bending of the socket edge 5.3 and the calibration of the socketstakes place in the calibration and bending tool depicted schematicallyin FIG. 7, which likewise is provided in the follow-on tool FW or on oneof the tool parts of the follow-on tool FW, and consists essentially ofthe calibration and bending ram 16 and an actuating element 17. Whilethe joining of the respective socket 5 takes place for example frombelow, the calibration and bending of the socket edge with the ram 16take place from above.

As explained above, the sockets 5 are designed with thin walls andtherefore are subject to inadvertent deformation that can negativelyaffect the free movement of the hinge as a result of relatively slightforce. Furthermore, considerable tolerances occur in the follow-on tool,e.g. with respect to the positioning of the components 1 at the toolsections, where the joining of the sockets 5 and the calibration andbending of the socket edge 5.3 take place, i.e. at the setting head 10and at the calibration and bending tool 15. To prevent the exertion offorce on the sockets and the possible deformation of the sockets as aresult of inexact positioning of the respective component 1 duringjoining and also during calibration and bending of the edge 5.3, themovements of the corresponding tools, in particular of the plunger 14and of the ram 16, are not purely path-controlled; instead, therespective tool adjusts to the actual position of the respective opening4 or of the socket 5 inserted in said opening. This is achieved, forexample, by the fact that the corresponding tools, especiallyperpendicular to the plane of the respective component 1, arespring-mounted and/or especially in the plane of the respectivecomponent 1 are floating mounted. This prevents deformation of thesockets 5 during insertion into the openings 4. Furthermore, the propercalibration and in particular also the even bending of the socket edge5.3 and fastening of the respective socket 5 in the correspondingopening 4 are achieved in an optimal manner, so that when actuating therespective hinge 3 it is actually the hinge pin 6 that revolves in thesocket 5 and not the socket 5 in the opening 4, which would beundesirable.

This floating mounting for the tool is achieved for example by aflexible connection between the end section of the plunger 14 engagingwith the respective socket 5 and the end of the ram 16 with theremaining plunger 14 or ram 16 engaging with the respective socket 5.This part of the plunger 14 or ram 16 engaging directly with therespective socket 5 then has a short axial length, so that there is notipping or tilting of the tool section engaging with the socket 5 andtherefore no undesired deformation of the socket 5 during processing ofthe respective socket 5. Furthermore, the tool section engaging with therespective socket has a low weight or a low mass.

FIG. 8 shows a very schematic representation of the process for afurther possible embodiment of the invention, in which the respectivesocket 5 is mounted in the respective component 1 with the correspondinghinge pin 6 pre-inserted. Corresponding to the depiction of FIG. 8, thistakes place in the manner that the sockets 5 and the hinge pins 6 aresupplied separately. During the process method, a socket 5 and a hingepin 6 each are joined outside of the follow-on or stage tool and thensupplied in this form to the corresponding setting head for insertion ofthe socket/hinge pin combination into the opening 4 of the respectivecomponent 1. The bending of the socket edge 5.3 and the securing of thehinge pin 6 by clinching or another suitable method take place forexample in the same tool section of the follow-on tool FW.

FIG. 9 shows a simplified depiction in cross section of the component 1in the area of the opening 4, namely in position a after punching of thecomponent 1 and after insertion of the openings 4. In this embodiment ofthe method according to the invention, the thickness of the component 1is first calibrated by a punch-like tool before insertion of the socket5, so that after calibration the component 1 has the required thicknessat least in the area of the opening 4 or of the hinge 3. In this method,the component 1 is therefore first manufactured with the somewhatgreater thickness D′, which is then reduced or calibrated to thethickness D in the area of the opening 4 during calibration. Thiscalibration takes place for example in a further processing step at anadditional position between the positions I and II of FIG. 4. With acorresponding tool design, however, this calibration can also take placein position 1 during manufacture of the component 1 or in position IIbefore insertion of the respective socket 5.

FIG. 10 shows in detail the processing steps already described ingeneral in FIG. 2 for inserting the bearing or hinge socket 5 into thecomponent 1, for calibration and fastening of the socket and forinserting and securing the hinge pin 6 in the socket. Position a) showsthe component 1 together with the hinge socket 5 already inserted intosaid component or the opening 4 and with a calibration and bending ram18, of which the two sections 18.1 and 18.2 are shown and which isinserted with the section 18.2 into the socket 5 for the calibration ofthe latter, namely from the side of the socket comprising the socketedge 5.3 to be bent. The component 1 and the hinge socket 5 aresupported on the flange-shaped socket section 5.2 with an opposing tool19. The matrix-shaped opposing tool 19 forms an opening 20 for holdingthe section 18.2. The opening 20 features on its opening edge facing thecomponent 1 an expansion 21, namely for holding the socket section 5.2.The calibration and bending ram 18 also achieves initially partialbending of the socket edge 5.3. For this purpose, the calibration andbending ram 18 is provided with a conical tapered sub-section 18.2.1, onwhich toward the free end of the calibration and bending ram 18 first acircumferentially reduced sub-section 18.2.2 adjoins, followed by thesub-section 18.2.3 with a cylindrical outer surface serving to calibratethe inner diameter of the bearing or hinge socket 5 and, adjoining thelatter, the truncated tapered sub-section 18.2.4 forming the free end ofthe calibration and bending ram 18. All sub-sections are designed sothat they are rotationally symmetrical on their peripheral surface andon the same axis with the longitudinal axis L_(St18) of the calibrationand bending ram 18.

The complete bending of the socket edge 5.3 takes place corresponding toposition b) of FIG. 10 with a bending ram 22, which comprises a ramsection 22.1 with an enlarged outer diameter and a section 22.2 with areduced outer diameter forming the ram end, which (reduced section) isshaped similarly to the section 18.2, namely starting from the ramsection 22.1 toward the free end of the bending ram 22 with aconstricted or tapered sub-section 22.2.1, with a sub-section 22.2.2comprising a cylindrical outer surface and with a truncated taperedsub-section 22.2.3 forming the free end of the bending ram 22. Betweenthe section 22.1 and the section 22.2 there is a ring-shaped surface 23,which lies in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis L_(St22) of theram and with which the socket edge 5.3 is fully bent during insertion ofthe ram section 22.2 into the bearing or hinge socket 5.

In this processing step the component 1 and the bearing or hinge socket5 are again supported on the opposing tool 19. In a further processingstep corresponding to position c) of FIG. 10, the hinge pin 6 isinserted into the bearing or hinge socket 5 secured in the component 1,so that its pin section 6.2 is held in the socket 5. The hinge pin 6 isprovided with the ring-shaped protrusion 8.1 described in connectionwith FIG. 3. The axial distance between the free edge of the protrusion8.1 and the plane of the side 6.1.1 of the pin head facing the pinsections 6.2 and 6.3, taking into account the component tolerances, i.e.in particular taking into account the tolerances of the thickness of thecomponent 1, the thickness or material thickness of the bearing or hingesocket 5 and the axial length of the pin section 6.2 with the protrusion8.1, is selected so that said protrusion protrudes slightly with itsfree edge over the plane of the side of the socket section 5.2 facingaway from the component 1 after insertion of the hinge pin 6, asindicated by the dimension X in position c).

The securing of the hinge socket 6 in the bearing or hinge socket 5takes place through clinching or by partial plastic deformation of theprotrusion 8.1 in the manner depicted in position d) of FIG. 10. Forthis purpose, a tool is used that consists of the die 23, which bearsagainst the pin head 6.1 or against the top side 6.1.2 facing away fromthe pin sections 6.2 and 6.3, and of the matrix-shaped opposing tool 24.The opposing tool 24 forms an opening 25 for holding the pin section6.3. The opening 25 is provided with an expansion 26 on the side facingthe component 1, i.e. on the bearing or support surface 27 of theopposing tool 24, in the manner that the socket section 5.2 is held inthis expansion so that during clinching of the protrusion 8.1 no oressentially no force is exerted on this socket section, but that thedesired clinching or plastic deformation of the protrusion 8.1 isachieved. For this purpose, the expansion 26 is provided on its bottomwith a ring-shaped raised area 28 that encloses the opening 25 and inthe depicted embodiment is somewhat recessed in relation to the plane ofthe bearing surface 27, i.e. does not protrude over the plane of thebearing surface 27, but instead is at a distance from said plane by thedimension designated Y in FIG. 10, position d) and FIG. 11, position a).The protrusion 8.1 is clinched using the tool consisting of the ram 23and the opposing tool 24 so that the ring-shaped securing section 8 isat a distance in relation to the plane of the bottom side of the socketsection 5.2 facing away from the component 1, i.e. is displaced inrelation to this plane toward the pin head 6.1. This is again madepossible by the fact that the opening 4 is provided with the chamferedarea or bevel 4.1.

As shown in FIG. 11, a corresponding design of the opposing tool 24 inthe area of the expansion 26 enclosing the opening 25 enables theclinching to be performed in the manner that the surface of thering-shaped securing section 8 facing away from the pin head 6.1 lies ina common plane with the bottom side of the socket section 5.2 facingaway from the component 1, for which purpose the opposing tool does nothave the ring-shaped protrusion in the area of the expansion 26 (FIG.11, position b)), or protrudes over this plane, for which purpose theopposing tool 24 has a ring-shaped recess 28 a enclosing the opening 25instead of the protrusion 28 in the area of the expansion 26 (FIG. 11,position c)).

In any case, the axial length of the pin section 6.2 enclosing theprotrusion 8.1 is selected so that it is at least equal to the sum ofthe material thickness of the component 1, double the material thicknessof the bearing or hinge socket 5 plus the tolerances of the component 1and double the wall thickness of the bearing or hinge socket 5.

Since the clinching should take place only in the area of the protrusion8.1, it is sufficient for securing of the hinge pin 6 if the height H orthe axial dimension of the protrusion 8.1 is at least equal to the sumof the tolerances of the thickness of the component 1 and double thetolerance of the wall thickness of the bearing or hinge socket 5; insuch cases, in which the securing section 8 produced by clinching isrecessed, i.e. set back from the plane of the side of the socket section5.2 facing away from the component 1 and cannot be reduced past thisrecessed dimension, while in the event that the securing section 8produced by clinching protrudes over the socket section 5.2, the heightH of the protrusion 8.1 is enlarged by the protruding dimension.

Furthermore, the protrusion 8.1 is in any case designed so that thevolume of the overhang X (position c) of FIG. 10) is not greater or notessentially greater than the free space available for the clinching ofthe protrusion 8.1, i.e. is essentially formed by the bevel 4.1.

As shown particularly by a comparison of the positions c) and d), theclinching of the protrusion 8.1 takes place in any case in the mannerthat the protrusion is not deformed over its entire height H, but onlyon a very small part of its height, for example a maximum of 20% of itsheight H in the area of the free edge.

FIG. 12 shows in positions a) and b) a simplified process, as comparedwith FIG. 10, for fastening of the bearing or hinge socket and forsetting and securing the hinge pin 6. Position a) of FIG. 12 correspondsto position a) of FIG. 10, i.e. this position again depicts thecalibration of the bearing and hinge socket 5 and the partial bending ofthe socket edge 5.3 with the calibration and bending ram 18.

Position b) depicts the tool consisting of the ram 23 and the opposingtool 24 together with the component 1, the bearing or hinge socket 5temporarily fastened in said component and the hinge pin 6. The bendingof the socket edge 5.3 is achieved in this method not by means of aspecial tool, i.e. not by the bending ram 22, but instead by the hingepin 6 held on the die 23 in a suitable manner, for example by permanentmagnets, vacuum, etc. and which (hinge pin) upon insertion of its pinsection 23 into the opening 25 of the opposing tool 24 and uponsubsequent clinching of the protrusion 8.1 with the pin head 6.1 or withthe pin head side 6.1.1 also causes the complete bending of the socketedge 5.3, so that the state depicted in position c) of FIG. 11 is againachieved.

The insertion and fastening of the bearing or hinge socket 5 and thesetting and securing of the hinge pin 6 are achieved in this embodimentlikewise under or in the press and also in a production tool, forexample a follow-on or stage tool, which also is used for themanufacture of at least the component 1, for example by punching andbending. As described above, at least the tools used for inserting,calibration and fastening of the bearing and hinge sockets 5 are againmoveably mounted, i.e. in particular floating or spring mounted,resulting in a power-controlled movement of these tools instead of thepath-controlled movement of the press.

The methods described in connection with FIGS. 10-12 can be combined ina preferable embodiment with the method described in FIG. 9 forcalibration of the material thickness of the component 1, i.e. thecomponent thickness is calibrated before setting of the respectivebearing or hinge socket, so that in particular during clinching of thehinge pins, there is no deformation of the material thickness of thesocket edge 5.3 due to tolerances, even with the use of non-springmounted clinching tools (die 23 and opposing tool 24).

It was assumed above that the hinge pins 6 have a ring-shaped protrusion8.1 in order to secure them. Of course, it is also possible to provideinstead of a ring-shaped protrusion a protrusion with another shape, orseveral protrusions distributed around the axis of the hinge pin 6.

The invention was described above based on exemplary embodiments. Itgoes without saying that numerous modifications and variations arepossible without abandoning the inventive idea upon which the inventionis based.

REFERENCE LIST

-   1, 2 component or workpiece-   3 hinge-   4 opening-   4.1 bevel-   5 bearing or hinge socket-   5.1 sleeve-shaped socket section-   5.2 flange-shaped socket section-   5.3 bent socket edge-   6 hinge pin-   6.1 head-   6.1.1, 6.1.2 head side-   6.2, 6.3 pin section-   7 opening in component or workpiece 2-   8 securing section produced by clinching-   8.1 protrusion-   8.2 groove-   9 material link between the components 1-   10 socket setting head-   11 rigid guide-   12 supply hose-   13 ready position-   14 plunger-   15 calibration and bending tool-   16 calibration and clinching ram-   17 actuating element, for example pneumatically or hydraulically    controlled-   18 calibration and bending ram-   18.1, 18,2 ram section-   18.2.1-18.2.3 sub-section-   19 opposing tool-   20 opening of the opposing tool 19-   21 expansion of the opening 20-   22 bending ram-   22.1, 22.2 ram section-   22.2.1-22.2.3 sub-section-   23 die-   24 opposing tool-   25 opening of the opposing tool 24-   26 expansion of the opening 25-   27 contact surface for component 1-   28 ring-shaped raised area for clinching of the protrusion 8.1-   28 a ring-shaped depression-   A direction of movement of components 1 in follow-on tool-   B direction of transport of sockets 5 to the socket setting head-   C movement of each socket 5 from the rigid guide 11 into the ready    position 13-   L_(St18), L_(St22) longitudinal ram axis-   X, Y dimension or overhang-   FW follow-on tool-   W1, W2, W3 tool element of follow-on tool-   D calibrated component thickness-   D′ non-calibrated component thickness

1-38. (canceled)
 39. A hinge or hinge connection between at least afirst component and a second component, with at least one bearing orhinge socket provided in one opening of the first component, with a pinsection held in said hinge socket with a first pin section andprotruding from the hinge socket with a further pin section andconnected with the second component, wherein the hinge pin comprises atleast one pin section, produced by plastic deformation or clinching,projecting radially over the circumference of the at least one pinsection held in the hinge socket.
 40. The hinge according to claim 39,wherein the section produced by clinching or plastic deformation is heldin the hinge socket.
 41. The hinge according to claim 39, wherein thesection produced by plastic deformation or by clinching lies flush orapproximately flush with a open end of the hinge socket.
 42. The hingeaccording to claim 39, wherein the section produced by clinching orplastic deformation protrudes from the hinge socket.
 43. The hingeaccording to claim 39, wherein the section produced by plasticdeformation or by clinching is held at least partially in a free spaceformed by the expansion of the inner diameter of the hinge socket and/orof the opening of the component.
 44. The hinge according to claim 43,wherein the free space is formed by an expansion or bevel of the openingof the first component.
 45. The hinge according to 39, wherein the hingepin comprises a pin head and adjoining the latter the pin section heldin the hinge socket, and that the section formed by plastic deformationor by clinching is formed on an end of the pin section held in the hingesocket which is distant from the pin head.
 46. The hinge according toclaim 39, wherein the section protruding radially over the circumferencein the hinge socket is formed by at least one at least partiallyelastically pre-formed protrusion, by a ring-shaped protrusion,enclosing the pin axis.
 47. The hinge according to claim 46, wherein theprotrusion is pre-formed in the area of its free end only on a partiallength, on a partial length that corresponds to approximately 20% of thetotal length to the section protruding radially over the circumferenceof the hinge pin section.
 48. A hinge pin for use in a hinge or hingeconnection between at least a first component and a second component,with a pin head and a pin shaft protruding from the second component andforming at least two pin sections with different shaft diameters,wherein at least one protrusion, which protrudes from the pin sectionwith the larger diameter in the direction of the pin axis, is formed atthe transition between two adjoining pin sections.
 49. The hinge pinaccording to claim 48, wherein the at least one protrusion is aring-shaped protrusion.
 50. The hinge pin according to claim 48, whereinseveral protrusions arranged in at least one array enclosing the pinaxis in a ring-shaped manner.
 51. The hinge pin according to claim 48,wherein the at least one protrusion is provided on an edge area of thetransition between the two pin sections which edge area is locatedradially outward in relation to the pin axis.
 52. The hinge pinaccording to claim 48, wherein the at least one protrusion is formed bya recess or groove on a pin surface forming the transition between thepin sections.
 53. The hinge pin according to claim 48, wherein the axiallength or height (H) of the protrusion is significantly smaller than theaxial length of the pin section bearing said protrusion.
 54. The hingepin according to claim 48, wherein at least one protrusion is locatedwithin the contour of the peripheral surface of the pin sectioncomprising said protrusion.
 55. The hinge pin according to claim 48,whereby the hinge pin is manufactured from metal or steel.
 56. The hingepin according to claim 48, wherein the axial height of the at least oneprotrusion is approximately equal to the sum tolerance of the componentthickness of the one component in the area of the hinge or of the hingedconnection, and double the wall thickness of the hinge socket used incombination with the hinge pin.